Associate Director, Labor Rights

**Summary**:We are seeking a strategic collaborative and solutions-focused Associate Director, Labor Rights to lead the execution of Novartis global labor rights program, with a focus on the Americas region.This role is critical to meeting our corporate responsibility under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and ensuring sustainable, ethical sourcing through high-impact engagement with external partners. The Associate Director will be accountable for identifying, assessing, and mitigating labor rights risks across Novartis value chain.**About the Role**:LI-HybridCDMX**Key Responsibilities**:- Act as the regional lead and go-to expert for the business and for external partners on labor rights risk management.- Lead risk assessments & due diligence on labor rights and raw material certification for all in-scope external partners, including developing, tracking, and closing mitigation actions/corrective action plans in line with Novartis global labor rights risk management protocols and international human rights standards.- Design and deliver capability-building programs for external partners using a maturity model framework.- Lead training efforts across internal stakeholders, external partners, and workers to deepen understanding of the Third Party Code (TPC).- Integrate digital risk monitoring tools (e.g., worker voice surveys, grievance platforms) into routine assessments and remediation.- Investigate and close relevant SpeakUp cases related to external partners in coordination with local and regional teams.- Contribute to the design and continuous improvement of global risk protocols, including Third Party Questionnaires (TPQs), audit methodologies, and remediation frameworks.- Build and maintain influential relationships with senior leaders across relevant functions viz. Procurement, External Partner Risk Management (EPRM), Legal, Ethics Risk & Compliance (ERC) and others as well as with external partners to co-develop ethical sourcing solutions.- Track KPIs that measure external partner compliance and program effectiveness and provide data analytics and reporting as required.- Engage with civil society, unions, and industry bodies to align Novartis labor rights approach with best practices.- Perform all Business Development Licensing and Mergers & Acquisitions related human rights risk assessments.- Actively contribute to broader Human Rights team strategy and cross-functional collaboration.**Requirements**:- Degree or equivalent experience in law, human rights, supply chain management, international relations, international development, or related fields.- Experience in labor rights risk management, including hands-on engagement with external partners on labor rights compliance with international labor standards.- Proven expertise in external partner transformation (from low to high compliance) and labor rights risk mitigation approaches.- Experience with digital tools for labor rights monitoring and technology-enabled risk assessment.- Strong leadership, analytical depth, and the ability to influence both internal stakeholders and external partners. Risk expertise with exceptional communication skills and a track record in human and labor rights, ideally within a corporate context.- Fluency in English; additional languages relevant to the Americas region are a plus.**Key Skills and Attributes**:- Strong influencing and negotiation skills to drive external partner compliance.- Skilled in effective risk assessments, data interpretation, and independently generating actionable insights for informed decision-making in complex risk scenarios.- Excellent communication abilities to effectively convey labor rights concepts to diverse stakeholders (internal and external) supporting clear, informed decision making.- Agile and adaptable to regional complexity and evolving regulatory landscapes.- Strong ownership mindset with the ability to lead multiple initiatives independently and deliver high-impact results with mínimal supervisor insight.- Commitment to a people-first, risk-based approach that prioritizes worker well-being.- Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve._DivisionEthics Risk & ComplianceBusiness UnitUniversal Hierarchy NodeLocationMexicoSiteINSURGENTESCompany / Legal EntityMX06 (FCRS = MX006) Novartis Farmacéutica S.A. de C.V.Functional AreaLegal & Intellectual Property & Compl.Job TypeFull timeEmployment TypeRegularShift WorkNo**Accessibility and accommodation**:Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.